Mick Fleetwood’s Version of Rock Bottom after Getting Fired From Fleetwood Mac
via PrairieKruzer / YouTube
At the height of their fame, Fleetwood Mac were untouchable. They had just come off the massive Tusk tour, following the success of Rumours, one of the best-selling albums of all time. But beneath the glitz and excess, tensions and exhaustion had taken their toll on the band.
By the tour’s end, drummer Mick Fleetwood faced a shocking blow. His bandmates decided they no longer wanted him to act as their manager—a role he had held while juggling his duties as a founding member. The decision came alongside an announcement that Fleetwood Mac would take an extended hiatus.
For Fleetwood, the timing couldn’t have been worse. His identity was deeply tied to the band he helped build, and the loss of control, combined with personal and financial troubles, sent him into one of the darkest periods of his life.
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A Band on Break
After the grueling Tusk tour wrapped, the members gathered for what would become a painful meeting. There, Fleetwood was officially dismissed from his managerial role. The band needed time apart, and a nine-month break was agreed upon so they could focus on solo projects and recovery.
Christine McVie later reflected on that moment, noting how visibly it affected Fleetwood. Once a towering, confident figure, he seemed to shrink in both spirit and stature. “Everything about him became little,” she recalled, describing the change as heartbreaking to witness.
The break that was supposed to provide rest only deepened Fleetwood’s sense of disconnection. Without the structure of the band, his life—once centered on the energy of touring and recording—suddenly felt empty.
Numbing the Pain
As the band drifted apart, Fleetwood turned to drugs to fill the void. McVie revealed that his drug use escalated during this time, describing him as lost and unable to function without being high. The once-driven drummer withdrew from the world, spending much of his time sleeping or in a haze.
“About as low as he could get,” McVie said of Fleetwood’s state. It wasn’t just his health that was deteriorating—his finances were in shambles too. Years of extravagant spending on homes, parties, and travel caught up with him, leading to bankruptcy.
Fleetwood’s decline wasn’t just professional; it was deeply personal. He was a man stripped of purpose, struggling to reconcile his identity beyond Fleetwood Mac.
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From Basement to Rebirth
At one point, Fleetwood’s situation became so dire that he ended up living in a friend’s basement. According to McVie, the space had a damp carpet and cold walls, and Fleetwood would spend days lying in bed, watching soap operas in isolation. It was a sharp contrast to the rock-star lifestyle he once led.
But rock bottom became the foundation for renewal. The darkness eventually forced Fleetwood to confront his choices and begin piecing his life back together. Slowly, he clawed his way back from addiction and financial ruin.
When Fleetwood Mac reunited in 1982 to record Mirage, he rejoined not just as their drummer, but as a man who had faced his demons and survived. His resilience became a quiet testament to the idea that even legends can fall—and rise again.
